Operatives from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Lapu-Lapu City successfully dismantled an active drug den and arrested four individuals in a targeted buy-bust operation on Monday afternoon, January 5, 2026.
Operation Details and Arrests
The raid took place around 5:30 p.m. at Purok Lemonsito in Barangay Gun-ob. According to PDEA 7 Director Joel Plaza, the primary target of the operation was a 29-year-old man known as alias "Rimon", identified as the maintainer of the illicit establishment. His alleged cohort, alias "Mykent," 38, a taxi driver and resident of the same area, was also apprehended.
Inside the den, agents caught two more individuals in the act of allegedly using shabu. They were identified as alias "Joselito," 34, and alias "Jose," 27. Both men work as linemen and are residents of Barangay Gun-ob.
Contraband Seized and Suspects' Background
PDEA agents confiscated significant evidence from the scene, including:
- Nine sachets of suspected shabu with a total weight of approximately six grams.
- The illegal drugs have an estimated street value of P40,800.
- Buy-bust money and other pieces of evidence linking the suspects to the trade.
PDEA 7 information officer Leia Alcantara revealed that the agency conducted a week-long case buildup after receiving a tip from a confidential informant. It was reported that Rimon allegedly sold between 10 to 15 grams of shabu per week, which he sourced from a supplier.
Notably, suspect Mykent had a prior brush with the law. He had previously been arrested in another illegal drug case and was currently out on probation at the time of this latest arrest.
Aftermath and Next Steps
All confiscated evidence has been turned over to the PDEA 7 Regional Office Laboratory for chemical analysis to confirm the substance. Meanwhile, the four arrested suspects are now detained at the PDEA 7 custodial facility in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City, awaiting the filing of appropriate charges.
This operation underscores the continued vigilance of anti-narcotics agents in Central Visayas against the proliferation of drug dens, even involving individuals already under the judicial system's watch.
